【BIKE of the WEEK】SURLY Straggler with Kyutai Paint

The order we received: "Touring" and "Daily Use"

The owner for this build asked for a bike that could handle two things: "daily use for commuting and grocery shopping" and "touring with gear for a change of clothes and overnight stays."

Since the primary use is daily city riding, we decided against building it with high-end, stiff parts. Instead, we focused on selecting components based on the intended usage, prioritizing gear range, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

Investing where it counts.

The main component group is SHIMANO Claris. While it lacks the high gear count of top-tier groupsets, the thicker teeth on the chain and sprockets offer superior durability. Because it's easy to handle issues like a broken chain while touring, and because it suits both daily use and touring while keeping costs down, it was the perfect choice.

Conversely, for parts that you really don't want to break, like the drivetrain and headset, we put in the extra investment.

For the headset, which directly affects steering and safety, we chose CHRIS KING. Its serviceable design allows for regular cleaning and greasing, ensuring long-term use, and its precision provides confidence and control when handling the bike.

The wheels, which support the rider's weight and drive force, were built using XT hubs and PACENTI rims laced with SIMWORKS BY HOSHI spokes. We built them specifically to be tough enough for both daily commutes and loaded touring.

The option of custom paint

As some of you may have noticed, this Straggler was actually repainted by Kyutai Paint from its original color (California Blue).

We finished it in a sophisticated olive green using durable powder coating, which balances practicality with a unique, custom feel.

One of the great things about Surly is that they offer replacement decals, making it easy to repaint the frame even after years of heavy use.

This way, you don't have to worry about creating custom logos or incurring high costs for overly complex paint jobs.

This time, we chose white logos and matched them with white cable housing—which people often fret about—for a light and clean look.

And that’s how this SURLY Straggler came to be. The total cost including paint was approximately 320,000 yen. While going all-out and building a super-stiff machine is great, there’s something to be said for a more relaxed, "snail-like" build, don't you think?

Stay tuned for the next [BIKE of the WEEK]!